Unique Disney-inspired Starbucks opens at Downtown Disney

A new Starbucks will be opening in Downtown Disney. The Disneyland Starbucks features a massive living wall built with more than 1,000 native plants shaped like a cup of coffee. BILL ALKOFER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

This year: A Starbucks kiosk is coming this summer to Downtown Disney. A second corporate-run Starbucks is scheduled to open later this year at Downtown Disney in Orlando. Two licensed locations are planned for Disney Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Starbucks on Monday unveiled its first company-run cafe on Disney property in the U.S. – a location built to showcase the best of each brand with a coffee house that delivers storytelling devices and a barista bar geared for coffee purists.

Starbucks beverages – not stores – debuted in 2012 at California Adventure as part of a partnership to bring the brand to several cafes at Disney theme parks in Anaheim and Florida. Those cafes are licensed operations run by Disney. The Downtown Disney cafe, which will open daily at 7 a.m., is a top-to-bottom Starbucks operation.

The 5,600-square-foot cafe, created by Starbuck’s Fountain Valley design team, contains a living wall with native plants shaped in the form of an abstract cup, a digital chalkboard designed to spark a “selfie” photo frenzy, a large terraced patio, a film installation documenting the Starbucks story on nine 46-inch flat-panel displays, and a hard-to-find Clover coffee bar.

“We were inspired by the magic of Disney,” said Sleeth, vice president of design for Starbucks locations in the U.S., Canada and Latin America. “We wanted to show up in a way that was unique (and) that would show off our brand.”

The Clover barista system is found in 50 Starbucks cafes in the greater Los Angeles area and 500 across the U.S. The reverse French press coffee brewing system is geared for purists – those who crave every nuanced flavor found in a single-origin cup of java. The Clover coffee is prepared in an exhibition bar separate from the main barista counter.

The 2,300-square-foot patio is one of the chain’s largest in the U.S. and includes the living wall and a large ficus tree surrounded by terraced seating. While the “al fresco” patio is impressive, Sleeth said the cafe’s showstopper is a 70-inch touchscreen chalkboard inside the cafe.

The interactive screen acts like a mirror. When a customer sits in front of it, his image is projected on the screen as a chalk painting. Guests also can use their fingers to scribble and draw.

“We wanted to create something that would appeal to the child in all of us,” Sleeth said.

The Downtown Disney Starbucks replaces the Anne Geddes shop and faces the World of Disney retail store. It is open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., and from 7 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Friday through Sunday.

A new Starbucks will be opening in Downtown Disney. The Disneyland Starbucks features a massive living wall built with more than 1,000 native plants shaped like a cup of coffee. BILL ALKOFER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Brian Hunt, left, and Peter Spano stand in front of the Clover barista bar, a reverse French press brewing system found in only 50 Starbucks cafes in Orange and Los Angeles counties. Above the bar is a video installation that shows slow-action film of coffee harvesting, roasting and brewing. The installation contains nine 46-inch LED LCD panels. BILL ALKOFER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The new Starbucks senior designer David Daniels demonstrates the interactive "chalkboard" installation. BILL ALKOFER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Scooter Aoalin is a coffee master at the new Starbucks. Behind him is a map of the parts of the world where Starbucks gets its coffee. BILL ALKOFER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The new Starbucks cafe in Downtown Disney features a touchscreen chalkboard that projects your image as a chalk painting. You can also use your finger to write on the board. NANCY LUNA, STAFF
Jose S. Bahena of PBC construction works on sealing the sidewalk in front of the new Starbucks. Behind him is a living wall built with more than 1,000 native plants shaped like a coffee cup. BILL ALKOFER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Starbucks executives Arthur Rubinfeld, left, and Bill Sleeth are in front of a wall of examples of all the types of coffee Starbucks sells. BILL ALKOFER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Starbucks barista Stephanie Danielski writes down a new coffee special to be offered at the location. BILL ALKOFER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Another look at the living wall at the Downtown Disney Starbucks. The LEED certified cafe features eco-friendly and sustainable products and fixtures. NANCY LUNA, STAFF

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